 In the atria node tissue, it determines the resting rate of your heart. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a second. Someone who has high resting heart rate could have a vagal nerve compression slowing down the vagus nerve, thus making their heart rate high. Well, doc, no. I was told I have tachycardia. I have a high heart rate and my doctor is putting me on a drug that lowers my heart rate.